Improvement in flooring-tongs



E. 1. HOUSTON I Flooring-Tongs. No. 135,916, Patented Feb. 18,1873

A M PHOIO-LITHOGRAPHIC 00. N {(omarms PRIJcEss) PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD J. HOUSTON, OF NAOOOOHEE, GEORGIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN FLOORlNG-TONGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 135,916, dated February 18, 1873.

To allachom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD J. HOUSTON, of Nacoochee, in White county, State of Georgia, have invented a certain improved device 'i'or carpenters? use in laying or setting tlooring or ceiling plank, to take the place of the dogs and wedges in common use, of which improved device the following is a specification; and I do hereby declare that the same is a full,

clear, and exact description of my said invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawing and to the letters of referencemarked some distance apart, the projections or points a. When it is desired to use the tongs their jaws are placed, near the end of the plank, over, so as to straddle the joist or studding, the points a being pressed into the sides thereof. The handles are then clamped together by means of the perforated plate I) hinged to one handle, and the pin I) inserted within the other. The tongs are then thrown forward as a lever against the plank, moving upon the points a as fulcrums, and the tongued and grooved plank is forced and fitted together.

I am aware of the patents granted to Thos. S. Urie, September 19, 1871, No. 119,203, and E. K. Purdy, October 13, 1868, N 0. 82,985, the devices shown in both of which I disclaim; but

I claim as my inventione The flooring-tongs A herein shown and described, constructed with points a and clamping device I) b, and used in the manner substa-ntially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name.

EDWARD J HOUSTON.

Witnesses JAMES WEsT, M. I. WEST. 

